How to Get Hot Peppers Off Your Hands

I roasted jalapeno peppers, and after I skinned and seeded them, I tried to take my contacts out. Wow -- I had to wash out my eyes with cold water.
-- Kathleen Boothe, Bedford, Tex.

These tasty, green chili peppers can pack quite a hot punch in spicing up Mexican dishes, but their seeds and membranes contain a heat-producing compound called capsaicin, which can be easily transferred to anything it touches. Here's how to get it off your hands: Rinse with milk or rub real butter on them -- dairy products neutralize the acids.

But my favorite hint to prevent the problem in the first place: Always try to wear rubber gloves when you're handling jalapenos (or any hot peppers) or coat your fingers with vegetable oil first. To reduce the "heat" of the pepper, carefully scrape out the seeds and membranes before using.